Refrigeration device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a refrigeration device ( 1 ) comprising: an inner container ( 2 ) with a coolable interior space ( 3, 4 ); a refrigerant circuit ( 21 ) provided for cooling the interior space ( 3, 4 ); a door panel ( 5, 6 ) provided for opening and dosing (lie interior space ( 3, 4 ); and a control device ( 22 ) designed to control at least one component ( 23, 24 ) of the refrigeration device ( 1 ) on the basis of the opening state of the door panel ( 5, 6 ). The refrigeration device ( 1 ) further comprises an electrical door opening assistance mechanism ( 25 ), which operates independently of the control device ( 22 ), is designed to at least support an opening of the door panel ( 5, 6 ), and therefore comprises information on the current opening state of the door panel ( 5, 6 ), and which is connected to the control device ( 22 ) and is designed to transmit information on the opening state of the door panel ( 5, 6 ) to the control device ( 22 ).

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigerator, which has an inner container with a coolable interior space and a door panel provided for opening and closing the interior space.

Refrigeration devices of this kind comprise a refrigerant circuit, optionally at least one fan, an interior space light, etc. and a control device for controlling the refrigerant circuit, fan, interior space light, etc. The control device of such refrigeration devices can be designed to control the refrigerant circuit, fan and/or interior space light as a function of the opening state of the door panel. In particular the control device can be designed to turn on the interior space light when the door panel is open and to turn if off when the door panel is closed. The control device can also be designed to turn off the fan when the door panel is open and to leave it turned off as long as the door panel is open. To recognize an open door panel, conventional refrigeration devices comprise magnetic or mechanical door switches connected to the control device, and these recognize opening and closing of the door panel.

The object of the invention is to disclose an improved refrigeration device.

The object of the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device having an inner container with a coolable interior space, a refrigerant circuit provided for cooling the interior space, a door panel provided for opening and closing the interior space, a control device designed to control at least one component of the refrigeration device as a function of the opening state of the door panel, and an electrical door opening assistance mechanism, which operates independently of the control device, and which is designed to at least support an opening of the door panel, and therefore comprises information on the current opening state of the door panel, and which is connected to the control device and is designed to transmit information on the current opening state of the door panel to the control device.

The inventive refrigeration device is constructed in particular as a domestic refrigerator, such as a domestic refrigeration appliance or as a combined fridge-freezer. The refrigeration device comprises the inner container, which is designed in particular as a heat-insulating inner container, as is generally known to a person skilled in the art. The inner container comprises the coolable interior space which can be closed by means of the door panel. The door panel is, by way of example, pivotally hinged relative to the inner container, and in particular on the inner container and can preferably be pivoted with respect to a vertically extending pivot axis to open and close the interior space.

The interior space is cooled by means of the refrigerant circuit. The coolable interior space is for example a refrigeration compartment which is provided to be cooled to temperature around about 10° C. The interior space can also be a freezer compartment whose desired temperatures lie below freezing point, preferably around −18° C.

The inventive refrigeration device comprises the control device which is designed to control at least one component of the refrigeration device as a function of the opening state of the door panel. The control device comprises for example an electronic device and is designed according to one variant of the inventive refrigeration device to control the refrigerant circuit, in particular a compressor of the refrigerant circuit, in such a way that the actual temperature of the interior space is at least approximately the same as a desired temperature of the interior space. For this purpose the control device can be designed to carry out temperature regulation of the interior space, known in principle to a person skilled in the art, by way of suitable control of the refrigerant circuit.

The component, which the control device controls according to the invention as a function of the opening state, can be by way of example an interior space light for at least partially illuminating the interior space. In this case the control device preferably turns the interior space light on as soon as the door panel is opened and turns it off again as soon as the door panel is closed again. The component can, however, also be at least one fan for conveying air cooled by the refrigerant circuit into the interior space. No-frost refrigeration devices for example include a fan of this kind. In this case the control device can be designed to automatically turn the fan off as soon as the door panel is opened. When the door panel is closed the control device controls the fan by way of example according to the established temperature regulation. The component can, however, also be a defrosting device for defrosting an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit.

The inventive refrigeration device also comprises the electrical or electronic door opening assistance mechanism which works independently of the control device. The electronic door opening assistance mechanism is independent therefore. Electrical door opening assistance mechanisms are provided to support opening of the door panel in an at least partially automated manner and are known in principle to a person skilled in the art by way of example from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1. Since, as a rule, an encircling seal, in particular a magnetic seal, is secured to the door panel, and in the closed state of the door panel this seal rests for example on the inner container or a body of the refrigeration device, when the door panel is closed a vacuum may form in the interior space which makes it difficult to open the door manually. To at least support opening of the door panel, electrical door opening assistance mechanisms are, as a rule, designed such that they automatically open the door panel at least so wide that air outside of the refrigeration device can pass into the interior space. For this purpose electrical door opening assistance mechanisms comprise by way of example an actuator which has for example a ram which, during opening of the door, automatically pushes the door away from the inner container.

Since the door opening assistance mechanism is provided to at least automatically support opening of the door panel, it is possible that the door opening assistance mechanism is designed according to the invention to have information on the current opening state of the door panel, i.e. the door opening assistance mechanism has information on whether the door panel is currently open or closed. According to the invention the door opening assistance mechanism is also connected to the control device and transmits to it the information on the current opening state of the door panel. Information about the current opening state of the door panel is therefore available to the control device so it is possible for this control device to control the at least one component as a function of the opening state of the door panel. The inventive refrigeration device therefore does not require a door opening switch as is the case with conventional refrigeration devices. The door opening assistance mechanism can in particular transmit information on the current opening state of the door panel to the control device in the case of any change in the opening state, i.e. whenever the door panel is opened or closed. The control device can also be designed to retrieve the information on the opening state of the door panel from the door opening assistance mechanism.

The door opening assistance mechanism of the inventive refrigeration device can preferably have an electronic control unit and an actuator connected to the control unit and which, controlled by the control unit, is designed to at least partially support opening of the door panel. The actuator is constructed for example as an electromechanical actuator which, to open the door panel, extends, automatically controlled by the control unit and consequently pushes the door panel away from the inner container. As the door panel is closed it pushes the actuator back into its original position.

According to one embodiment of the inventive refrigeration device the door opening assistance mechanism has a sensor connected to the control unit and which is designed to detect a movement of the door panel. The control unit is then preferably designed to control the actuator on the basis of signals generated by the sensor, so it at least assists in the at least partial opening of the door panel. Suitable sensors are known to a person skilled in the art by way of example from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 and are, by way of example, pressure or Hall sensors. It is therefore possible for a user of the inventive refrigeration device to initially easily move the closed door panel, and the sensor detects this, so the door opening assistance mechanism, by means of its actuator and controlled by the control unit, then automatically pushes the door panel open.

According to a further variant of the inventive refrigeration device it has an input means connected to the control unit, on the basis of whose actuation the control unit controls the actuator so the latter at least assists in the at least partial opening of the door panel. The input means is for example a button.

The door opening assistance mechanism can preferably have an independent power supply which is designed to generate, from a mains voltage for the refrigeration device, an electrical supply voltage for the control unit and/or a supply voltage for the actuator. In particular in connection with the sensor, which is designed to detect a movement of the door panel, the door opening assistance mechanism can therefore be constructed so as to be completely stand-alone and completely independent of the control device.

To connect the door opening assistance mechanism to the control device the door opening assistance mechanism can have an output by which the door opening assistance mechanism, and in particular its control unit, is connected to the control device. The output is constructed for example as a potential-free output which can be scanned by the control device.

The inventive refrigeration device therefore comprises an independently operating door opening assistance mechanism which preferably does not require an input signal and has just one connection for the mains voltage. This facilitates opening of the door panel and the door opening assistance mechanism can be constructed for example as what is known as a pull-to-open or push-to-open door opening assistance mechanism. The door opening assistance mechanism is normally always informed about the opening state of the door panel in order to be able to rule out inadvertent activation.

The door opening assistance mechanism is already constructed in such a way that it has information on the current opening state of the door panel. This is preferably achieved in that recognition of the current opening state of the door panel is already integrated in the sensors of an opening intention recognition system. For this purpose the door opening assistance mechanism comprises for example the sensor for detecting a movement of the door panel. Since according to the invention the door opening assistance mechanism is connected to the control device of the refrigeration device, a separate door switch, present in conventional refrigeration devices, can be omitted.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a domestic refrigerator and

FIG. 2 shows components of the domestic refrigerator.

FIG. 1 shows a domestic refrigerator 1 as an example of a refrigeration device. The domestic refrigerator 1 is constructed as a no-frost refrigeration device and has an inner container 2 with a coolable interior space which in the case of the present exemplary embodiment is divided into a freezer compartment 3 and a refrigeration compartment 4 arranged above the freezer compartment 3. The freezer compartment 3 is used by way of example for deep-freezing frozen food at, for example, about minus 18 degrees Celsius. The refrigeration compartment 4 and the freezer compartment 3 are separated from each other by a heat-insulating partition 9. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the partition 9 is part of the inner container 2.

The domestic refrigerator 1 comprises at least one refrigerant circuit 21, shown in FIG. 2, for cooling the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4. A shared refrigerant circuit may be provided for the refrigeration compartment 4 and the freezer compartment 3, and this comprises for example an evaporator provided to cool the refrigeration compartment 4 and an evaporator provided to cool the freezer compartment 3. The domestic refrigerator 1 can, however, also have separate refrigerant circuits for the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the domestic refrigerator 1 has two door panels 5, 6, for closing the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4. When the door panels 5, 6 are open the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4 are accessible. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment a plurality of door trays 12 for storing chilled goods are arranged on the side of the door panel 6, provided for closing the refrigeration compartment 4, oriented in the direction of the refrigeration compartment 4. The door panels 5, 6 are arranged, for example on the inner container 2, so as to be pivotal relative to the inner container 2 by means of hinges as is known in principle to a person skilled in the art. When the door panels 5, 6 are open the refrigeration compartment 4 and the freezer compartment 3 are accessible. One magnetic seal 7, 8 respectively, known in principle to a person skilled in the art, is also secured in an encircling manner to the inward-facing faces of the door panels 5, 6, and when the door panels 5, 6 are closed these rest on the inner container 2 so it is substantially air tight.

A plurality of drawers 10 for storing frozen food is arranged in the freezer compartment 3 and a plurality of trays 11 for storing chilled goods is arranged in the refrigeration compartment 4 by way of example.

The domestic refrigerator 1 also has a control device 22, shown in FIG. 2, which is designed to control the refrigerant circuit(s), optionally the refrigerant circuit 21 during operation of the domestic refrigerator 1, in such a way that the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4 have at least approximately predetermined or adjustable desired temperatures, as is known in principle to a person skilled in the art. The control device 22 is designed, for example, to implement an appropriate temperature regulation of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4. For this purpose the domestic refrigerator 1 comprises, for example, temperature sensors (not shown) connected to the control device 22 which are designed to determine the actual temperatures of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigeration compartment 4. Due to the actual temperatures determined by means of the temperature sensors and the signals associated with the actual temperatures, it is possible for the control device 22 to control the refrigerant circuit 21 in the manner known in principle to a person skilled in the art.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the domestic refrigerator 1 comprises at least one fan 23 connected to the control device 22 and/or at least one interior space light 24 connected to the control device 22. The fan 23 is provided in particular to convey air cooled by the refrigerant circuit 22 into the refrigeration compartment 4. When door panel 6, which is associated with the refrigeration compartment 4, is open the interior space light 24 is provided in particular to at least partially illuminate the refrigeration compartment 4.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the control device 22 is designed, when door panel 6, which is associated with the refrigeration compartment 4, is open, so as to automatically turn off the fan 23 and turn on the interior space light 24. When door panel 6 is closed, the control device 22 automatically turns the inner light 24 off and operates the fan in accordance with the predetermined desired temperature and in accordance with the determined actual temperature of the refrigeration compartment 4. In general the control device 22 is therefore designed to operate at least one component of the domestic refrigerator 1 as a function of the opening state of door panel 6 associated with the refrigeration compartment 4. Alternatively or additionally, the control device 22 can also be designed to operate at least one component of the domestic refrigerator 1 as a function of the opening state of door panel 7 associated with the freezer compartment 3. A component of this kind may for example be an interior space light (not shown) of the freezer compartment 3, a fan associated with the freezer compartment 3 or a defrosting system associated with the refrigeration circuit 21.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the domestic refrigerator 1 has an electrical door opening assistance mechanism 25. This is designed to at least partially support opening the door panel 6 associated with the refrigeration compartment 4. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the door opening assistance mechanism 25 is foam-sealed into the partition 9 and works independently of the control device 22 or works completely independently.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the door opening assistance mechanism 25 has an actuator 26, a control unit 27 connected to the actuator 26 and a power supply 28. The actuator 26, control unit 27 and power supply 28 are arranged by way of example inside a shared housing 29. The power supply 28 is provided to generate an electrical supply voltage for the control unit 27 and optionally a supply voltage for the actuator 26 from a mains voltage for the domestic refrigerator 1. The control unit 27 comprises for example an electronic device having a microcontroller or microprocessor and is designed to control the actuator 26.

The door opening assistance mechanism 25 is designed to at least partially support opening the door panel 6 associated with the refrigeration compartment 4. For this purpose, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment and as is known in principle to a person skilled in the art, it is arranged relative to the door panel 6 in such a way that the actuator 26, controlled by the control unit 27, extends, if required, from a retracted position into an extended position and therefore opens the door panel 6 at least to the extent that the magnetic seal 8 of the door panel 6 no longer rests on the inner container 2. The door opening assistance mechanism 25 is preferably arranged in the inner container 2 in such a way that the actuator 26 presses approximately centrally against the door panel 6 during opening.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the door opening assistance mechanism 25 comprises a sensor 30 for detecting a movement of the door panel 6. This sensor 30 is coupled to the control unit 27 of the door opening assistance mechanism 25 and is designed to detect a movement of the closed door panel 6, whereupon the control unit 27 controls the actuator 26 so this at least partially opens the door panel 6. Suitable sensors 30 are known to a person skilled in the art by way of example from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 and are pressure or Hall sensors by way of example. It is therefore possible for a user of the domestic refrigerator 1 to move the closed door panel 6 in such a way that the magnetic seal 8 still rests on the inner container 2. This movement is detected by the sensor 30, whereupon the actuator 26 automatically pushes open the door panel 6.

Alternatively or additionally, an input means connected to the control unit 27 of the door opening assistance mechanism 25 may also be provided instead of the sensor 30. When the input means is actuated the control unit 27 of the door opening assistance mechanism 25 automatically extends the actuator 26 to at least partially open the door panel 6. The input means can be, for example, a button 14 connected to the control unit 27 of the door opening assistance mechanism 25 and which is arranged by way of example on the outward-facing side of the door panel 6.

When the open door panel 6 is closed the face of the door panel 6 oriented in the direction of the refrigeration compartment 4 presses the actuator 26 back into its non-extended, i.e. retracted, position. This information is transmitted to the control unit 27 of the door opening assistance mechanism 25.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the door opening assistance mechanism 25 is coupled or connected to the control device 22 of the domestic refrigerator 1. For this purpose the door opening assistance mechanism 25 comprises, for example, an output 31, connected to the control unit 27, by way of which the door opening assistance mechanism 25 is connected to the control device 22.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment the door opening assistance mechanism 25 is designed to transmit to the control device 22 information on the open door panel 6 as soon as the actuator 26 is extended. The door opening assistance mechanism 25 is also designed to transmit to the control device 22 information on the closed door panel 6 as soon as the actuator 26 is pressed into its retracted position. The control device 22 can also be designed to retrieve this information from the output.

The control device 22 consequently receives information on the current opening state of the door panel 6, so it is possible for the control device 22 to operate at least one component of the domestic refrigerator 1 as a function of the opening state of the door panel 6 associated with the refrigeration compartment 4, as has been described above.

Alternatively or additionally, the domestic refrigerator 1 can have an electrical door opening assistance mechanism 32 which is designed to at least partially support opening the door panel 7 associated with the freezer compartment 3. The door opening assistance mechanism 32 can be foam-sealed, for example, into the bottom 13 of the inner container 2 and works independently of the control device 22. The door opening assistance mechanism 32 associated with the freezer compartment 3 can in particular be constructed in accordance with the door opening assistance mechanism 25 associated with the refrigeration compartment 4 and therefore transmit to the control device 22 information on the current opening state of the door panel 5 associated with the freezer compartment 3. It is consequently possible for the control device 22 to operate at least one component of the domestic refrigerator 1 as a function of the opening state of the door panel 5 associated with the freezer compartment 3, as has been described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

1 Domestic refrigerator

2 Inner container

3 Freezer compartment

4 Refrigeration compartment

5,6 Door panel

7,8 Magnetic seal

9 Partition

10 Drawers

11 Trays

12 Door trays

13 Bottom

14 Button

21 Refrigerant circuit

22 Control device

23 Fan

24 Interior space light

25 Door opening assistance mechanism

26 Actuator

27 Control device

28 Power supply

29 Housing

30 Sensor

31 Output

32 Door opening assistance mechanism 

1. A refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigerator, comprising an inner container with a coolable interior space; a refrigerant circuit provided for cooling the interior space; a door panel provided for opening and closing the interior space; and a control device designed to control at least one component of the refrigeration device as a function of the opening state of the door panel, characterized by an electrical door opening assistance mechanism, which operates independently of the control device, which mechanism is designed to at least support an opening of the door panel, and therefore comprises information on the current opening state of the door panel, and which is connected to the control device and is designed to transmit information on the current opening state of the door panel to the control device.
 2. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door opening assistance mechanism has an electronic control unit and an actuator connected to the control unit, the actuator being designed to at least partially support the opening of the door panel controlled by the control unit.
 3. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the door opening assistance mechanism has a sensor connected to the control unit, and this is designed to detect a movement of the door panel, and the control unit is designed to control the actuator on the basis of the signals generated by the sensor so the actuator at least assists in the at least partial opening of the door panel, and/or the refrigeration device has an input means connected to the control unit, on the basis of actuation of which input means the control unit controls the actuator so the actuator at least partially assists in the at least partial opening of the door panel.
 4. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the door opening assistance mechanism has an independent power supply which is designed to generate, from a mains voltage for the refrigeration device, an electrical supply voltage for the control unit and/or a supply voltage for the actuator.
 5. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door opening assistance mechanism has an output by which the door opening assistance mechanism, and in particular its control unit, is connected to the control device.
 6. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component which the control device controls as a function of the opening state of the door panel is an interior space light for at least partially illuminating the interior space; a fan for conveying air cooled by the refrigerant circuit into the interior space, and/or a defrosting device for defrosting an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit.
 7. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device is designed to control the refrigerant circuit, in particular a compressor of the refrigerant circuit, in such a way that the actual temperature of the interior space is at least approximately the same as a desired temperature of the interior space. 